Desktop PCs: The Essential Consumer Buying Guide

Contents

In the mid-nineties, PC Magazine regularly ran PC reviews in which we tested over 100 machines side by side. Today, the playing field
has narrowed considerably. Many PC manufacturers have merged or dropped out of the market. Small "boutique" vendors sell customized systems
aimed at gamers, with sexy cases, top components, and clocks pushed beyond their ratings; these boxes are expensive, but come with a
phenomenal drool factor. Still, because CPU manufacturers such as Intel, AMD, and IBM realize that people have different needs, these
companies continue to design processors that push the envelope; not just in terms of raw power, but with an eye toward functionality and
value too

The consumer (or home) desktop category is broken down into subcategories. We'll take a look at a variety of important features in
addition to the processor, such as memory, hard drives, optical drives, sound cards, and expansion options, and we'll let you know why you
may or may not need a particular device. We'll discuss other factors to consider when buying a desktop, including budget, technical
support, and warranty options. We also post a list of 10 buying tips that will help you get the most for your money. Finally, we'll explain
why the fastest desktop may not be the most powerful, and we'll tell you what all those acronyms stand for.

As a Contributing Editor for PC Magazine, John Delaney has been testing and reviewing monitors, HDTVs, PCs, servers, and other assorted hardware and peripherals for more than 14 years. A 13-year veteran of PC Magazine's Labs (most recently as Director of Operations), John was responsible for the recruitment, training and management of the Labs technical staff, as well as evaluating and maintaining the integrity of the Labs testing machines and procedures.
Prior to joining Ziff Davis Publishing, John spent six years in retail operations for Federated...
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